OMBIDI
A Pilot Study in northern Namibia 
11 December 2000

Part 1. THE OMBIDI PILOT STUDY

The Ombidi pilot study started during 1993 as a small, informal project performed by a lecturer and three students from Ogongo Agricultural College. All activities were done in the spare time and a small petty cash fund was made available by IBIS, a Danish NGO.

The aim was to investigate the traditional use of local spinach in Northern Namibia and document the findings. 

During 1995 all four had moved to other jobs and areas in Namibia, and the survey results were never released due to other commitments and difficulties in sorting out the local names.

At the end of 1998 there was new opportunity to continue the Ombidi work and sort out the many local names that had hindered an interpretation of the survey. A work group was formed to verify the previous findings and finish the collection of herbarium specimens for correct identifications.

The study was focused on north central Namibia, which covers four of the thirteen regions: Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshana and Oshikoto. These are the most densely populated regions in Namibia and represent more than half of the Namibian population.
 

METHODS 

Compiling existing information.

A literature review revealed that there was only limited information about local spinach in northern Namibia. The work is therefore mainly based on the few sources available: Rodin (1985), the Oshana book and Dinteria, volume 23. The remaining information stems from the survey and investigations made by the work group.

Conducting a survey

The three college students conducted a survey during the school leave in 1994. The survey was informal due to lack of transport and time. It was decided to use the students’ home areas for the survey. A total of 24 farmers were interviewed and a questionnaire was used in order to record the information from each interview.

Collecting Ombidi seeds.

Seeds were collected in 1994 from 5 of the most common species of Ombidi: Ombidi (Omboga), Ekwakwa, Eshilalodi, Omundjulu and Ombudje. These samples were later on lost in transport. There was time, however, to notice the seed size and pest attacks on the samples. Seed samples were used in field experiments at Ogongo Agricultural College.

Verifying plant names.

Many local names were recorded in the Ombidi survey and it was soon clear that there were many duplicates. A considerable effort was made in 1998/99 to sort out the confusion about local names and link the local names to scientific names. 

Taking photographs.

A series of colour prints or slides were made, showing the cooking and drying process and the most commonly used Ombidi species. Photos were scanned and edited before being used in this publication. 

Field experiments.

A small field experiment was established at Ogongo Agricultural College in 1994. The aim was to study cultivation of local Ombidi species as an alternative to the “European” vegetables that were grown at the college. These introduced vegetables were difficult to grow without extensive use of scarce irrigation water and they also suffered from quite serious pest attacks.

Unfortunately, the field experiments were inconclusive and they were not repeated due to other commitments. 
 


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